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Residents press for backyard chickens; council orders removal by end of October
Summary
Residents asked the City of New Germany to allow backyard chickens; the council cited developer covenants and staffing limits and directed that existing chickens be removed by the end of October while allowing coops to remain if cleaned out.
Mayor Shirley Jaeger and the New Germany City Council heard a resident proposal on Oct. 15 to allow backyard chickens within town limits, but after extended discussion the council declined to change city code and ordered that chickens be removed by the end of October.
Kevin Johnson presented a written proposal to the council asking to permit poultry for residents. He was accompanied by Joe and Rachael Yant. Council members noted that the Black Forest subdivision covenants prohibit chickens and that the city code currently disallows poultry. Council members also said the city lacks the staff capacity to inspect coops and enforce permit requirements.
"The developer is not interested in changing the covenants in Black Forest," a council member said during discussion, and council members expressed concern about inspection workload and enforcement. After debate the council determined that any chickens currently on properties should be removed by the end of October; coops may remain only if they are cleaned out.
The action was not recorded as a formal ordinance change on the record; instead, the council treated it as a direction regarding existing animals and a statement of current policy. The council did not adopt any amendment to city code or take steps to modify developer covenants.
The issue arose under Old Business; the council noted residents may petition developers separately if they wish to change covenants. No timeline or staff assignment was recorded in the minutes for follow-up enforcement beyond the removal deadline.
